Aimed at cross country and light trail riders looking for fast rolling but grippy treads, the new Kenda Rush and updated Karma 2 tires also get a new, lighter version of their SCT casing.
There are also a LOT of new sizes of their Booster, Regolith, and HellKat tires, both for full sized bikes and the kids, from 20″ up to 29er, plus a new gravel-friendly version of their 4TITUDE all-condions tire…
New Karma 2 and Rush mountain bike tires
The Karma was one of Kenda’s most popular mountain bike tires ever, but due for a refresh. The new Karma 2 keeps the somewhat aggressive tread pattern and openly spaced design that helps it perform well in loose, wet conditions.
What’s new is a lighter version of their SCT sidewall protection that puts a cut protection layer on the sidewalls. But there’s no extra puncture protection under the tread cap to help keep it light.
The Karma 2 will come in 2.2″ and 2.4″ sizes, with 29er claimed weights ranging from 595g up to 776g. Weights for 27.5″ models are 581g to 653g. Two versions are offered, the TR (Tubeless Race) that skips the sidewall cut layer to save more weight, and the SCT version, which will come in both black and brown sidewalls.
The new Kenda Rush is, in their words, an evolution of the Sabre (which will remain in the line), but faster rolling. It uses the same new SCT casing, and also comes in TR versions, but only in a 29×2.2 size.
A new dual compound rubber was developed for this tire to give it bite while also rolling fast. The small, sharp-edged knobs should help it dig into the ground a bit, but it’s definitely a dry conditions race tire. Claimed weights are just 525g for the TR model, and 607g for SCT.
Both the Karma 2 and Rush should be available in Spring 2022, along with most of the other new mountain bike tire sizes shown below.
New sizes for Regolith, Hellkat & Booster
Kenda’s most aggressive tires, the Regolith and Hellkat, get a lot of new sizes for sizes of riders. On the adult end of things, look for a 27.5×2.8 “plus” size Regolith, likely aimed at mixed-wheel eMTBs for a rear. For the kids, the Regolith also adds 20×2.2, 24×2.2, 24×2.4, 26×2.2, and 26×2.4 sizes.
The Hellkat adds a 24×2.4 for the kids, and a 27.5×2.8 for bigger bikes. Not shown (but you can see the tread pattern below on a gravel version), the faster rolling Booster adds 2.2″ and 2.4″ sizes for 20″, 24″ and 26″ wheels, too.
Kenda 4TITUDE & Booster Gravel Tires
On display at BWR NC, the Kenda 4TITUDE semi-slick tire will soon come in wider sizes for gravel bikes. Shown here is a 700×42, likely joined by 700×37 and 700×40 options later this year.
The design comes from their all-conditions road series, which includes 25mm, 28mm, and 32mm widths, and uses their ultralight K-Armor puncture protection belt. That gives those models extremely light weights, but without tubeless compatibility.
These new gravel versions trade up to Kenda’s GCT (Gravel Casing Technology). That means a full bead to bead puncture and cut protection later between the tread and the casing, and proper tubeless compatibility.
These join their knobbier Alluvium, Booster CX, and Flintridge gravel tires, giving Kenda a proper dry-conditions race tire for less aggressive courses. MSRP and availability TBD.
Joining those are new 700×33 and 700×37 sizes for the Booster Pro, which already had a 700×40 option. We really like the Booster as an XC tire, so we’re guessing these will make a great loose conditions gravel tread when you still need something that rolls fast and smooth.
